VP22 proteins and uses thereof

Abstract

Herpesviral VP22 proteins (and variants) are used to modify cell structure and cell division, by their newly found property of binding to microtubules in cells. Uses of VP22 to exploit this property include stabilisation of animal cellular microtubules in vivo and in vitro, e.g. to retard or arrest cell division or induce cell death. The microtubule binding function of VP22 can be exploited by reagent use in vitro to study microtubules or the cell cycle particularly at cell division, and pharmaceutically to retard or arrest cell division of cells such as neoplastic cells or protozoal parasite cells in vitro or in vivo.

1. A method of delivering a substance to microtubules, comprising exposing said microtubules to said substance, said substance being in a form selected from the group consisting of a fusion, a covalent coupling, and a non-covalent coupling, of said substance with a protein, wherein said protein is a herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) VP22 protein, or is a portion thereof comprising amino acids 1 to 267 of HSV1 VP22 protein, amino acids 1 to 191 of HSV1 VP22 protein, or amino acids 1 to 172 of HSV1 VP22 protein, and wherein said substance is a microtubule binding substance. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is taxol. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein comprises amino acids 1 to 267 of HSV1 VP22 protein. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein comprises amino acids 1 to 191 of VP22 protein. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein comprises amino acids 1 to 172 of VP22 protein.